Noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Highlights:
– Syria/Board of Inquiry
– COVID-19/Syria
– Secretary-General on Violence against Women
– COVID-19 Funding
– Kosovo
– Ukraine
– Brazil
– COVID-19/Internatiobal Labour Conference
– International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
– Education Cannot Wait
– Yemen
– Vanuatu
– Financial Contribution
SYRIA/BOARD OF INQUIRY
The Secretary-General has released a summary of the investigation by the Board of Inquiry on Syria.
As you will recall, the Secretary-General established this Board of Inquiry in August 2019 to investigate incidents that occurred in north-west Syria since the signing of the Memorandum on Stabilization of the Situation in the Idlib De-escalation Area between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey on 17 September 2018.
The investigation covered the destruction of, or damage to, facilities on the deconfliction list and UN-supported facilities in the area.
In a letter to the Security Council, the Secretary-General said he is considering the Board’s recommendations, with some of the complex issues raised including the question of which parties to the conflict should be given information intended to support deconfliction.
The Secretary-General noted that he will appoint a senior independent adviser on how to address the Board’s recommendations.
He stressed that the impact of the hostilities on civilian and humanitarian sites in north-west Syria is a clear reminder of the importance for all parties to the conflict to observe and ensure respect for international humanitarian law. These include the obligations at all times to distinguish between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives and to direct attacks only against combatants and military objectives.
COVID-19/SYRIA
The Syrian Government has now confirmed 19 cases of COVID-19, including two deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is leading UN efforts to support the preparations and mitigation measures across Syria. The UN is also supporting Syria with testing and surveillance, providing protective equipment and training of health workers, and working with communities, health workers and other partners to disseminate messages on prevention and protection.
As the UN and humanitarian partners work around the clock to support with response, they face additional challenges as the result of nine years of crisis. These include a fragile health system; insufficient water and sanitation infrastructure; limited access to some areas due to ongoing hostilities; and the impact of sanctions; as well as global travel restrictions.
Yesterday, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Imran Riza, as well as the UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Kevin Kennedy, expressed their deep concern over persistent interruption to essential services, particularly those vital to safeguard community health against the virus.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=06%20April%202020
